2009 Yoga of Imagination Retreat

The time is upon us for great change. We are being called to rise beyond that which we were given, to create that which we most want. It is a time to envision, imagine…more hope, more love, more peace and more joy. On this retreat we practiced the tools that can make this happen, the time tested Eight Limbs of Yoga. Together we explored the process of actively using imagination for the conscious creation of our visions and dreams, and we formed a community of support and love.

“As a result of the retreat, my meditation practice has been strengthened; I have at my disposal a more pro-active and energetic aspect to my meditation practice that was previously not there. Also as a result of the retreat, my knowledge of all of the eight limbs of yoga has deepened; I can see more readily my life through their prism and this has made me a more peaceful and content person.” ~ Kristin G.

“As usual, the retreat exceeded my expectations in terms of the entire gestalt of the experience. It was epic, poetic, buoyant, spiritually enlightening, and transformative. All your preparation, planning and curriculum articulation paid off! This was a huge, complex and time consuming undertaking, and you proceeded to do it masterfully. Personally, the retreat exceeded my expectations in regards to my own clarity and vision. I was in awe of your focus, energy level, belief and dedication to us, as you trusted the universe to bring us where we needed to go. The group solidified immediately providing support, unity, solidarity, and collegiality so important to the experience. Kudos to you for an amazing retreat – every participant benefited in profound ways evolving in life affirming recognition and a genuine sense of spiritual and deep aliveness! Your courage and perseverance are admirable. We will all reap the benefits for decades to come! I am most grateful for your skill and compassion is reaching out to every person and gently, but firmly edging them forward to their potential believing in their capabilities and gifts. Thank you for the rapture! “ ~ Carolyn D.

“What I learned on this retreat was how to love myself. I never could have said that before because it just felt selfish to utter those words, as by saying them out loud and writing them makes me feel healthy. That is quite a shift in my consciousness. I look forward to more workshops with you, and sharing the good news to all my clients about the work you teach. Coming home would be the feeling for me. Coming home to my Spirit, the Spirit that brought me here 52 years ago. Thank you for helping me to find my way home.” ~ Marty T.

“I was profoundly touched and enriched by my experience at the Imagination Retreat in Mexico. I felt as if the hand of God reached out to all of us with extraordinary depth, grace and tenderness. Our hearts and our souls were held with extreme kindness and care, where deep healing and transformation took place changing our DNA forever. From this point, we were wholeheartedly able to fully consider in an intensely thoughtful way, what we can rightly and wisely do to forward this most precious Universe.” ~ Pat S.

“This retreat exceeded my expectations in many ways. First, I can’t ever remember having so much fun! This was, partially the payoff for all the personal work I have done over the years, but the perfect setting and Jennie Lee’s masterful guidance and pure love, set the stage for an incredible week. My heart was open in the safe environment in which Jennie created, and I was able to set new goals while appreciating and honoring my personal journey and myself. I feel more accepting of myself, more trusting of my inner thoughts and decisions, more empowered,feel excited about the future, have new tools for goal setting and manifesting.” ~ Janice L.

“The written curriculum provided a vast amount of information, making more sense every day…predictability of format for each day helped with absorbing and digesting information…loved having a theme each day with mudras, pranayamas, yoga correlating. You addressing various developmental levels of all of us were amazing. When learning new information for the first time, you checking in with individuals during the session was really helpful. So Jennie…my “Divine Teacher, Beloved Friend…I bow to you, again and again” ~ Marie Z.

Breathing Love Dolphin Retreat

Bimini 2018

Celebrating the release of Jennie’s second book, Breathing Love: Meditation in Action, this retreat centered on love as we communed with wild dolphins in the azure waters of Bimini. Mornings opened in joyful asana and ‘breathing love’ meditations to prepare for dolphin encounters. Then we swam for hours with these mystical beings, immersed in their playful joy. At sunset we cruised home, dancing on the bow of the boat filled with love.

“The group atmosphere was amazing, and swimming with the dolphins was magical. I will take the dolphins eyes with me for the rest of my life and anytime I feel down they will ‘lift’ me. Thank you for making my dream come true.” ~ Jo

“I am so grateful for the guidance and opportunity to go deep into self-reflection. Life changing. You have helped me start on the path to pure love.” ~Molly

“I felt total acceptance of where everyone was at in life’s journey, physically and mentally. Jennie is amazing and this was a once in a lifetime journey.” ~ Cathy

“The retreat way exceeded my expectations! I loved the variety of yoga. I learned and experienced so many new things and the dolphins were amazing. I cannot even begin to describe how transformational this week has been. I felt full of love all week and each day got better and better!” ~ Jenny G.

“There was never a time I felt uncared for or alone. I overcame fears and tested myself. It was an amazing experience.” ~ M.J.

“Everything was stellar from start to finish!” ~ Dyan

“I was totally blown away by what I experienced both with dolphins and with fellow humans.” ~ Len

As an author, I am often asked, why did I write my book, or what I hope readers will take away. On reflecting on this question, I realized that writing Breathing Love has been an effort in synthesizing and sharing the best of the past 30 years of my life, my studies, and self-reflection. Through it, I also clarified my strongest determination for the rest of my life – to love completely and with no limits.

It has been an exercise in self-discipline, introspection, gratitude, laughter, compassion and appreciation in the following ways:

Self-discipline in plowing through when I wanted to quit – oh so many times!

Introspection on experiences I thought were long behind me

Gratitude for the blocks to love that it cleared from my heart

Humor for the times I fail at the things I try hard to teach

Compassion for myself, and everyone else who is trying to keep their heart open in this crazy world

Appreciation for the support I received from family, friends, God and unseen angels

I hope that reading Breathing Love will bring you what writing it brought me. Things like:

Greater patience, gentleness and compassion for yourself and everyone around you

A deeper understanding that when people act badly, they are suffering, and our anger response will not help or change them, only a loving one will

A willingness to own our pettiness and ego, things we need to clarify and let go

A release of old anger and sadness that we may not even know we are holding

The revelation of buried feelings that need more love and acceptance

A lighter heart and more joy

Strength to never give up, no matter what the world offers back

Writing this book has been a total energy spend, like vigorous exercise, which has helped me build a new level of endurance and also enabled me to finally rest. It has challenged me to see God in every face and place. And it has expressed the deepest cry of my soul, one that has been there since childhood that screams, “Please people, just love each other!”

As a writer and a mother, having given birth to creations of the heart and physical children, I am well aware that although both are filled with intense personal love and investment, all are destined to enter the world on their own terms and touch others as they may. Lessons of non-attachment come with both, given that we cannot control the final success or failure of our creations, whether human or literary. And the same is true about love. All we can do is be fully present with each breath of life, give our best and highest love, and then trust in whatever follows.

I offer Breathing Love to you as inspiration and trust that it will touch those it is meant to. I release you my love. You are not mine, and never have been. You are God’s. God’s love for all. God’s love in all. We are all love.

To accomplish anything we want in life we need focus, willpower, and self-control to stick with our intention. The Yoga Sutras tell us that by being ‘dedicated to self-control, great energy is gained.’ (Sutra ii.38) Let’s look a littledeeper at how we can develop this essential life skill.

Brahmacharya has often been translated as renunciation or celibacy, and for those who have chosen a monastic life, this form of restraint is still their practice. The reason for restricting life force energy (prana) in certain categories of life, such as sexuality, is to have more available for one’s growth in another, such as spirituality. But for the householder yogi or average practitioner, the first step is simply to bring awareness to the habits and desires that deplete us on a daily basis so that we may become more self-controlled in our lives. This ensures that we will have enough inner resources for all that we want and need to do both materially and spiritually. Employing balance to find the right levels of work, play, creativity, and service, we moderate the exchange of giving and receiving energy with the world around us.

This Sutra on self-control (Brahmacharya) describes how our storehouse of life force energy will expand exponentially when we cultivate a moderate and balanced approach to life. We utilize prana differently for various activities. In our studies or creative pursuits we use mental energy. For exercise and household chores we need physical energy. For relationships and child rearing, we expend emotional energy. To harmonize all of these different ways of engaging with life, we need both vitality and temperance.

More is not always better. If we over spend our energy in any one of the above categories, remaining imbalanced for any length of time, we burn out from the accumulated stress that literally turns the internal nature of the body from alkaline to acidic, making it a breeding ground for disease. To maintain health and prevent physical imbalance, it is essential to learn not to deplete ourselves in useless ways, and to let go of unnecessary activities or relationships. By consciously monitoring the expenditure of our life force energy, we will be able to make wise choices for personal balance.

Check in periodically during your daily activities and ask yourself if what you are giving your time and attention to will matter in ten years. Prioritize the use of your precious life force energy.

Make a list of all the projects you have that are incomplete. Decide whether you still wish to complete them. Commit a specific time frame to those that you do. Mentally delete the others. Employ self-control to accomplish your goals.

Empower yourself through Yoga Therapy. Enhance your strengths and eliminate the patterns of thought and behavior that cause stress and suffering. This 8-part Yoga Therapy course gives you the tools to face your challenges and rise above them, developing greater Self awareness, peace, stability, clarity, strength and excitement about your purpose in life.

Get practices for optimal wellness in…

Proper Energy Flow

Even-Mindedness

Flexibility

Self-Control

Resilience

Self-Awareness

Open-Heartedness

Fearlessness

Material in this course is based on the yogic criteria for health and the Eight Limb Path of Yoga found in the classical text, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is comprised of written lessons, guided yoga movement and meditations, breathwork, self-reflection questions, and homework to take the practice into daily life.

Yoga Therapy offers you a way to live in peace & balance now.

Do you need support with physical goals, emotional challenges, or spiritual direction?

How does a combination of talk and movement therapy, including personalized practices of therapeutic yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation strategies, deep relaxation tips, and spiritual life coaching sound?

Is convenient scheduling for your busy lifestyle important?

Would you enjoy home practice suggestions, email support between sessions, and recommended reading?

Jennie Lee is a Certified Yoga Therapist with 20 years experience. She provides all the tools you need for positive change.

“In more than 25 years of experience as a student and teacher in the field of personal growth, I have never found anyone as gifted as Jennie Lee. Her unique blend of talk therapy, yoga and meditation helped me make rapid progress on my journey of self-understanding, emotional wholeness and peace. Jennie had a remarkable ability to understand what I was experiencing—and an even greater talent for finding the right approach to help me through it. If you are serious about the process of self-discovery and awareness—I know of no one I would recommend more highly.” – Art Dwight, President, One Decision LLC

Benefits of Yoga Therapy

Overcome stress, anxiety, depression. Become more peaceful

Calm the nervous system and increase immune functioning

Learn to be less reactive emotionally

Eradicate negative beliefs. Become mindful and happy

Find humor even in times of challenge

Move through grief and crises of faith with support

Boost your energy level, get stronger & more flexible

Rehabilitate injuries and relieve chronic tension

Change unproductive habits. Feel inspired and purposeful

Clarify your life goals and soul purpose

Sessions are 75 minutes and are scheduled Mon- Sat by phone or Skype, or in person on O’ahu.

“I’ve LOVED getting back into my yoga practice with Jennie. She’s a beautiful and versatile teacher who challenged me to the perfect degree.”– Emily Blunt, Actress, Edge of Tomorrow

Who does Yoga Therapy?

Jennie’s clients are from all walks of life, ages 6-94. The common denominator is that they all want to make positive change in their lives. If you have an open mind, a willing heart, and you desire more joy and peace then you are a great candidate for the transformative practices of Yoga Therapy.

“I highly recommend working with Jennie. She offered me a variety of techniques to assist me with the issues I was addressing. Each session was diverse and helped me build a set of skills that I still use to this day. Her nonjudgmental presence created a safe space. I love the integration of yoga with counseling, as it gets beyond talk therapy and provides a mind-body connection that is often lacking in traditional therapy.” – Michal

“Jennie is very candid. She does not pretend that yoga, or anything for that matter, is easy. She admits that things are rough sometimes and that yoga is a way to work with that rough stuff.”– Katie Bouton, Founder & CEO, Koya Leadership Partners

Jennie’s current clients Include:

CEOs

Celebrities

Doctors & Dentists

Writers & Educators

Psychologists

Lawyers

Financial Analysts

Bank Officers

Architects

Children & Parents

Military Officers

Hospice Patients

Entrepreneurs

International Buyers

HR Directors & more…

Will I learn meditation too?

Absolutely! Meditation is the ultimate Yoga practice. It enables us to cultivate lasting peace and to understand the purpose of our life. I offer you inspiring techniques and the support you need to start and maintain a personal meditation practice. Whether you start with 5 minutes or 50, over time you will feel life changing results!

Learn how to control your thoughts, feelings and energy

Understand breathing techniques and visualization that help you still the mind and body

“Jennie truly has a gift for seeing the essence of the person she is working with and for bringing forth their core issue for examination and healing. It makes me wish that everyone had someone like her in their life to help guide them.” – Dyan DeNapoli, Best Selling Author, The Great Penguin Rescue

“Jennie is an amazing teacher in every respect. She has increased my self esteem and made me aware of the importance of living in the moment. She is a compassionate individual who, having had some rough times in her life, is able to deeply sympathize with the struggles we all face living in a increasingly lonely society.”– Susan Given

The other day I was talking to a client, a brilliant, beautiful young woman with everything available to her. She was overcome with anxiety and fear about her life, because she felt that if she pursued what was meaningful to her, that she might not be perfect at it, and that she would be judged by others. This left her in a self-sabotaging loop of going after something that she cared about for a little while, and then finding a way to undo it all before she completed it so that she would not have to experience the possibility of failure, imperfection or judgment of others. Basically, she preemptively did all of those things for herself, so no one else ever could.

Are you your own harshest critic? Are you robbing yourself of joy for the sake of your self-image? If so, this is no way to live life. We are given passions and interests to enjoy and express ourselves through, and ultimately use in service to others. If we deny ourselves the joy of being who we truly are, then we will never align with others who appreciate what we uniquely have to share, and we will not fulfill the expression of the Divine that we were created for.

Yoga is the practice of coming home to our true Self. By allowing our inner light to shine forth freely, we reclaim our happiness and we bless all those around us. So wipe the falseness away from your self image mirror and smile into your joyful self today.

1. Focus on What Matters Most (Dharana)
The holidays always seem to be filled to capacity and it is easy to get overwhelmed. Lovingly say no to excessive activities, and preserve the joy in what you say yes to. Spend quiet time with your family or friends discussing what is important and meaningful to all of you. What is the simplest, most authentic, most heart centered use of your time and attention? Prioritize that, and let go of the rest.

2. Manage Your Energy (Pranayama)
Our life energy is precious and we are in charge of how we utilize it. If people or activities are draining you, remove yourself temporarily and take a breathing break. If the traffic or shopping lines have you frustrated, take a pause to focus on deep full inhales, and slow releasing exhales. Set good personal boundaries to protect your energy reserves for what matters most.

3. Embrace Simplicity (Saucha)
Cultural influences of consumerism and indulgence are strong around the holidays, so its challenging as modern householder yogis to choose simplicity. But we don’t have to get swept away in the tide of celebrating through material goods. Try enjoying the basics again, like sitting under the tree, relaxing with the twinkling lights. Offer free hugs wherever you go. Choose to do less, buy less, expect less. By doing so, we step off the treadmill of consumerism and back to the foundation of celebrating the holiness within the holidays.

4. Practice Contentment (Santosha)
Release attachment to how you think things ‘should be’ and go with the flow. Be prepared to cancel plans if obstacles present themselves or the kids are melting down. Be content and fully present with the activity at hand rather than already anticipating what’s next. To be truly grateful for and fully absorbed in one thing at a time, brings our hearts ease, our minds release, and our bodies rest.

5. Remember Devotion (Ishwara Pranidhana)

Take some time to reflect upon what is holy to you this holiday season. However you celebrate the Divine, bring this devotion into all your chosen activities. Choose to offer love to everyone you encounter (even difficult family members).

6. Try Meditation (Dhyana)
Just stop. Sit or stand completely still for five minutes and focus on deep, slow, belly breathing. Allow all thought and feelings to pass by like shoppers in the mall. Tune into your heart and rest. Then make all your choices ones of simple joy and deep devotion and you will experience the peace of truly “holy days.”